Liquid operated timing devices



Jan. 15, 1963 H. ULANET LIQUID OPERATED TIMING DEVICES Filed April 9, 1959 1 IN VEN TOR. HER/VIA N ULANET ATTORNEY 3,073,162 LIQUID OPERATED TIMING DEVICES Herman Ulanet, 473 Richmond Ave., Maplewood, NJ. Filed Apr. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 805,274 1 Claim. (Cl. 73-337) This invention relates to a triggering and timing device actuated by immersion in a liquid.

It is an object of the instant invention to create a device which will either open or close an electric circuit or activate another device when immersed in a liquid.

Another object is to create a device of the type described in which various time periods for activating the device can be preselected.

It is also an object of the instant invention to provide an inexpensive liquid actuated timer for practice bombing and the like.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification:

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives, subject triggering and timing device is made in five embodiments. In each embodiment is a spiral spring coil or the like. Over at least a portion of one or both surfaces of the coil is liquid absorbing material, having an uniform rate of absorption the capillary action of which when immersed in the liquid will create a mechanical force that will cause the free end of the coil to move outwardly and close an electric circuit, actuate a lever, or the like. The first embodiment shows the spiral spring coil with a layer of liquid absorbing material on one side. The second embodiment is like the first except that the spring coil is used in combination with an adjustable contact point of an electric circuit. The third embodiment is like the first also except that the spring coil is used in combination with a pivotally mounted lever. The fourth embodiment is like the first except that the spring coil is used in combination with a bellows for moving a movable contact point in engagement with a stationary contact point of an electric circuit. The fifth embodiment shows one means for varying the timing action of the spring coil used in the previously mentioned embodiments.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example the preferred embodiments of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows the first embodiment of the device constructed in accordance with the principles of this in vention and is a top view thereof in part section.

FIGURE 2 shows the second embodiment and is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring coil shown in FIGURE 1 in combination with the adjustable contact point of an electric circuit.

FIGURE 3 shows the third embodiment and is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring coil shown in FIG- URE 1 in combination with a pivotally mounted lever.

FIGURE 4 shows the fourth embodiment and is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring coil shown in FIG- URE 1 in combination with a collapsible bellows which opens and closes an electric circuit when actuated by the spring coil.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show the fifth embodiment, and in which;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the spring coil shown in FIGURE 1 but differing therefrom by having a second spring coil disposed over the exposed surface of the liquid absorbing member; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary developed view of the inner surface of the second spring coil shown in FIG- URE 5 where the second spring coil has been apertured to vary the timing.

United States Patent 0 ice.

Referring now to the first embodiment of the triggering and timing device shown in FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10 indicates the device.

The device is constituted in part of a strip of spring brass 11 or the like in the form of a spiral coil although other forms could be used. Either on the inner surface as illustrated or on the outer surface or on both surfaces, absorbing material 12, such as blotting paper, is secured to the strip of spring brass by cement or by any other known means.

In operation: When immersed in the liquid, the liquid absorbing material 12 will absorb by capillary action some of the liquid and cause the assembly to unwind outwardly in the direction of the arrow.

Referring now to the second embodiment of the device shown in FIGURE 2, reference numeral 15 indicates the device in combination with an adjustable contact point 19 of an electric circuit.

The device 15, as in the first embodiment, is constituted V of a strip of spring material 16 to which is secured a layer of liquid absorbing material 17.

Adjacent the outer end of the spring coil 16, a known movable contact point 18 is fixed by any known means.

In combination with the device 15 is the previously mentioned adjustable contact point 19, both contact points being so positioned that they will be in operable engagement when the device is immersed in the liquid. By connecting the contact points in series in an electric circuit, the circuit will be closed when the device is immersed in the liquid.

Referring now to the third embodiment of the device shown in FIGURE 3, reference numeral 20 indicates the device in combination with a pivotally mounted lever 23.

As in the first two embodiments, the device 20 is constituted of a strip of spring brass 21 to one side of which is secured a layer of liquid absorbing material 22. Adjacent the outer end of the spring brass strip 21 is an outwardly directed actuating protrusion 22a fastened thereto by any known means. Of course, the protrusion 22a could be omitted.

The lever 23 is pivotally secured by any suitable fulcrum 26 to a mounting surface (not shown), and is constituted of the power arm 24 and the weight arm 25.

In operation: When immersed in a liquid, the liquid absorbing material 22 will cause the device 20 to move counterclockwise as shown by the arrow in FIGURE 3 for operable engagement with the power arm 24 of the lever 23 and cause the weight arm 25 to move clockwise. The movement of the weight arm, thus obtained can then be utilized for any suitable purpose such as setting a gear train in motion, or actuating a pawl. etc.

Referring now to the fourth embodiment of the device shown in FIGURE 4, reference numeral 30 indicates the device.

As in the previously illustrated and described embodiments, the device 30 is constituted of a strip of spring brass 31 on one side of which is a layer of liquid absorbing material 32. Adjacent the outer end of the spring 'brass strip 31 a protrusion 33 is mounted although the device is operative without the protrusion.

In combination with the device 30 is a bellows 34 constituted of a collaps ble casing 35 designed to be normally in the expanded position shown in FIGURE 4. In the outer end of the casing 35 is a header 36 fastened therein by any suitable means. The inner end of the casing may also be closed by any suitable means 40 and sealed, if desired, in a housing 41., By sealing the header 36 in the casing, both the bellows 34 and the housing 41 can be hermetically sealed. One end of a plunger 37 is fixed by any known means to the inner surface of the header 36 and then extended inwardly through an aligned opening in the means 40 in which it is reciprocal for operable engagement with the normally open spring contact member 38.

In operation: When immersed in the liquid, the device 30 will move in operable engagement with the header 36 to collapse the bellows 34 whereupon the plunger 37 will move inwardly in operable engagement with the normally open spring contact member 38 which in turn, will move inwardly for operable engagement with the stationary contact member 39 to close an electric circuit through the contacts when connected in series in a circuit.

Referring now to the fifth embodiment of the device shown in FIGURES and 6, reference numeral 50 indicates the device.

Somewhat similar to the previously illustrated and described devices, the device 50 is constituted of a strip of relatively heavy spring brass 51 in the form of a spiral coil and on one surface of which is fixed a layer of liquid absorbing material 52 of substantially uniform absorption character. Unlike the devices of the previously mentioned embodiments, over vthe exposed surface of the absorbing material 52 is another but relatively thin strip of spring brass 53.

The relatively thin strip of spring brass 53 differs from the single strips of the already described embodiments and the relatively heavy strip of spring brass on the opposite side of the absorbing material 52 in that a series of apertures 54 are formed therethrough for the purpose of limiting the capillary action as compared to the case where the absorbing material is exposed completely and thereby increasing the time interval at which it will operate When immersed in the liquid. Obviously the device will respond when immersed slower when thestrip with the spring coil apertures is used than in the case where there is no second strip.

In the case of a solid strip on both sides of the absorbing material, the only capillary action will be from the exposed edges of the absorbing material sandwiched between the solid strips, which will give a very slow reaction. Also, rather than using a spring strip on both sides of the absorbing material, one side of the absorbing material could be coated in whole or in part with liquid resistant material. Variations in timing can also be accomplished by varying the Width of the spring strips.

While only five embodiments of the device have been illustrated and described, other embodiments are possible within the scope of the appended claim. What is claimed is:

A liquid operated timing device comprising a spiral spring coil, liquid absorbing material of substantially uniform absorption character disposed on one side of the coil, and a second spring coil disposed on the exposed surface of the liquid absorbing material, the second mentioned spring coil having at least one opening formed therethrough whereby the capillary action of the absorbing material is facilitated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 75,432 Lazell Mar. 10, 1868 1,201,241 Berg Oct. 17, 1916 1,809,426 Somers June 9, 1931 2,067,875 Bullock Jan. 12, 1937 2,480,983 Unger Sept. 6, 1949 

